My family moved into our home in October 2019, which in hindsight was perfect timing with an unknown pandemic and quarantine on the horizon not even 6 months later. It was a safe place for us from the start - it felt like home during the initial house tour and even more so during 2020 when we were social distancing for the majority of the year.
I love interior design and decorating is one of my personal favorite hobbies. Making our home feel like us and portray our story is so special to me. I took my time to get a feel for the space and how our family uses it. I have moved things around between rooms and as we have settled into our home, it has become clear exactly what we need to fill the space that is both practical and beautiful. This is a surprisingly hard balance with a little boy, a cat and two adults that prefer the house neat and tidy at all times. 3 years later and I'm finally feeling "done." Over the next few months, I'll be sharing more of the rooms in our home, but first up is the dining room.
My design aesthetic is best described as "modern coastal" with each room in the house falling more or less on the spectrum of coastal/bohemian (den & dining room) and modern/farmhouse (living room & master bedroom).The front rooms in our house face the east and the natural light that streams in from the large windows is one of my favorite features. Because of this, I've leaned into a little more color in the den and dining room to play up the beachy boho vibes.
The bookshelves were actually one of the very first purchases I made for our house right after we moved in. I knew I wanted a wall of shelves to display family photos, plants, vintage treasures, and books. We have baskets on the bottom of each bookcase for Jack's books, which he digs through every night to find the perfect bedtime story.
The hutch and credenza provide additional storage for a wine rack & glasses, placemats & linen napkins, platters, extra candles and board games. We don't have a formal entryway, but the chair by the front door is a great spot for guests to set their bag or a place to sit while putting on their shoes. I added a leather lumbar pillow with woven stripes and tassel details to add both a modern and bohemian touch. The lifeguard stand painting is symbolic for Greg and I as we had a pivotal relationship conversation during a beach walk many years ago.
When deciding on a new dining table, I knew I wanted something in solid wood with natural tones and extendable to be large enough to fit 8 people with the leaf inserted. I love the one we chose which has a driftwood look and feel. I kept the dining chairs simple with a bright white wood to coordinate with the credenza, hutch and bookshelves. We were able to keep our existing rug and chair cushions, with complimentary beige tones and texture, and pair nicely the entryway armchair.
The wood bead chandelier was the cherry on top of my birthday cupcake! Since we were doing the dining room makeover in January, when my mom asked what I wanted for my birthday, I sent her a link to this light fixture. It is the perfect coastal piece to tie the whole room together and replace the dark wood fan the former owners had installed.
The final product of the dining room is even better than I envisioned. Bright and natural with lots of texture, neutrals mixed with shades of blue, and personal touches on the shelves, all anchored with a large table for family gatherings in the middle. I am looking forward to sitting around our dining table for many years of weeknight dinners with Greg and Jack, holidays with our extended family, game nights, homework & school projects, and all the laughs and memories in between.
